Dreamboat | Chase Stokes Love Story

Chapter 46

"Martini's up! This is it!" The crew called, "Action."

I sat clasping my hands together, as I stood to the side watching the scene begin.

"Dude, where is he?" Maddie asked standing on the dock beside the phantom.

"Give him a second. He'll be here," JD reassured her.

"He's coming. He'll be fine," Rudy said from behind the wheel when Chase pulled up in the cop car.

"JJ!" Maddie said concerned.

"Hey, yeah. Get back on the boat," he ordered, "Untie it."

"Shit," she swore.

"Wait," Rudy said as Chase got out of the car, "No way."

"No f'ing way," JD gasped.

"I'm sorry," Maddie said dumbfounded as they looked him over.

"You've gotta be kidding me," Rudy said as he got off the boat.

"Shoupe let me take it for a spin," Chase told them walking up to the group.

"Okay. That's believable. I'll buy that for now," Maddie agreed, reaching out to hug him quickly.

"It wasn't easy, bro, but I got the Phantom for you, and she runs like she was made yesterday," Rudy said jingling the keys in his hand, "You ready to go?"

"Where's Sarah?" Chase asked slowly.

"She's not with you?" Maddie asked.

"No, we got separated in the swamp," he told them, "She said she'd meet me here."

"No, we haven't seen her," JD responded as he walked through the group.

"Okay, well, I'm not leaving without her," Chase shook his head.

"John B, look at me," Rudy said sternly, "I know you feel bad for leaving, but there's no time, man. You've got plenty of gas, plenty of food. Once you get around that point, it's a straight shot across the sound to Dismal Swamp, okay?"

Chase stared off to the side as Rudy told him exactly what he needed to do.

"Once you get there, lay low, all right? Hang out for a couple of weeks and then go overland, cross the border at Brownsville," Rudy grabbed his head to make sure he was paying attention, "You... Hey! You got that?"

"Yeah, yeah. Brownsville," Chase nodded.

"All right. Saddle her up, saltwater cowboy. Let's do this," Rudy hopped off the boat and Chase took his place.

"Hey. Hey," Chase stopped them from starting to push the boat. I could see tears forming in his eyes, "I'm sorry for basically...throwing us off a cliff with this whole treasure hunt thing."

"Hey, John B, yo...we were bound to run off a cliff at some point, right?" Rudy asked.

"Yeah," he nodded as more tears started to form.

"At least we did it together, though," Rudy said throwing his arms over both Maddie and JD's shoulders, "Pogue style."

"Pogue style," Chase confirmed.

"Get out of here! Please," Maddie begged.

"Now," JD pointed to the water, "We'll see you in two months, down in Mexico."

"Love you," Rudy called.

"Hey, wait... wait a second," Chase said putting a hand to his mouth, "Tell Sarah I said goodbye, okay?"

"Don't forget. Cross the border at Brownsville, okay?" Rudy said after a moment of silence.

"Got it," he called.